River entered the catwalk, a bright red apple in hand, and only stared at it as she slipped down the narrow steps into the cargo hold. Jayne rolled his eyes as he sliced a piece from his apple with his knife and chewed on it vigorously. She sat down across from the exercise bench where he was sitting and placed the apple on the floor in front of her. Jayne never really understood the crazy girl's way of thinking and all the jibber jabber that she spoke. He barely understood anything as a matter of fact, but he ignored her and continued to slice his apple.

"Ya know… you continue to stare at that apple 'f yurs, it might dis'ppear on ya when ya close yur eyes," he stated and sliced another piece. River broke her eye contact with the apple and stared at Jayne in confusion.

"Physically impossible, man-called-Jayne. The fruit cannot disappear on its own," she answered, "it is not capable to act as oxygen."

"Crazy, I was ruttin' pullin' yur leg," he muttered and chewed on the last of his apple. River stared back down at hers and sighed. She took it in her hand once again and held it out to Jayne. He just blinked, unsure of what she wanted.

"Could you cut my apple into slices?" she asked, a small pout appearing on her rosy lips. Jayne frowned.

"Don't ya have yur brother fer that, crazy?"

"Big bear is soothing Sunshine in the far corners of the 'verse."

"Why don't ya cut it yurself?"

"River-girl cannot use knife or guns. Captain Daddy's orders," she replied, and shook her occupied hand once in insistence. "Please, Jayne-man?"

Jayne sighed in frustration and snatched the apple. Meticulously, he began to cut the fruit into smaller pieces while River sat across from him, a childish smile portrayed on her face.

"Why are ya here, moonbrain? I bet the others are wonderin' where ya are," he stated matter-of-factly. River's smile faltered into a soft frown.

"She told Jayne-man that Big bear is soothing Sunshine. Captain Daddy is off in different quadrant, following his heart's desire. The pilot and the first mate are engaged in sharing bodily fluids in the helm. Preacher man is talking to the stars in his quarters. Jayne-man can help River-girl."

"Didn't need to know what the others are up to, crazy. Ya could have asked 'Nara to help ya."

"Too many thoughts, too many feelings. Can't stay in one place, can't stay in another. She can't think straight with others feeling strong emotions. Jayne-man is the only one that can help."

"Helpin' ya?"

River smiled as she stood up and took the slices from Jayne's hands. "Jayne thinks clearly. Though the guilt still lingers, she forgives him for what happened at Ariel. Jayne-man saved River-girl from blue hands in the end."

She leaned down, planting a soft kiss on his left cheek, letting it linger for a few more seconds before pulling away and running out of the cargo hold. Jayne let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding before rubbing his hands against his face.

"Gorram crazy…" That girl was going to be his death one day.